ISLAMABAD: The government has chosen not to place Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall—American diplomat who killed a youth in Islamabad—on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Colonel Joseph who is a defence attaché at the US embassy in Islamabad, violated a red light in Islamabad on the 7th of April, and subsequently collided with a motorcycle.
The accident resulted in the immediate death of Ateeq Baig, and injured his fellow passenger.
Sources claim that keeping in mind diplomatic immunity, the Interior Ministry has chosen not to place Mr. Hall’s name on the ECL.
On Wednesday, while hearing a petition by the deceased’s father, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had claimed that diplomatic immunity does not give room to take life.
The judge overseeing the hearing also criticised the police for not taking strict enough measures against the diplomat.
Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that it is standard procedure to immediately undertake an alcohol test in such incidents—something the police failed to do.
The court also directed the committee formed to assess placing the diplomat’s name on the ECL to decide the matter in 5 days.
The hearing will resume again on Tuesday.
